3 Quilts in 3 Weeks

As mentioned before, I've previously been a quilt or two a year kind of quilter. Last year, I made 4 quilts. Now, I made 3 in the past 3 weeks. All three of these quilts are for the prayer shawl ministry.


I started the first one the day before I read about project improv. I had already planned on making a log cabin quilt, alternating white and color. I deciding to change things up a bit, so I went from all 2 1/2 strips, to strips that were also 4 and 5 inches. I then started putting them together, trimming edges to make things a bit wonkier. I do like how it turned out, and I think the bright colors combined with the white really emphasize the wonk. This quilt is for the mother of a childhood friend, who has breast cancer.

I was almost finished with the first top and had just told Allen that this was the last quilt I was going to make before we moved. Then, we heard the news about Brian. I decided that two more quilts were in order.

I had really enjoyed the wonky log cabin, so I decided that I would continue to play for awhile. Instead of cutting exact strip lengths, I just grabbed my scissors and started cutting random width strips of all of the fabrics I was using - freedom! Working this way really fits my personality- kind of messy, plus I don't tend to get things exactly square, anyway, now I don't need to! Anyway, I pushed the blocks a bit more with this one, but kind of evened things out with the white. This quilt is for Brian's son, Nate.

For the next quilt, I pulled out a few fabrics that I had purchased together, with no specific project in mind. I thought they would make a beautiful quilt for Kirsten, Brian's fiancee. Again, I just started cutting the fabric in random widths. I had this wild floral that I used for the centers and a bit on the sides. I really love this quilt. By just butting the blocks up against one another, it is more difficult to tell where one block ends and the next begins. I want to keep this quilt, really it is one of my favorites.

yes, the picture is upside down, but Allen was holding it the wrong way.

And, you can see why I like the quilt. See how nicely it fits into my living room.

I used these same fabrics to make my red/aqua block for the project improv charity quilt. I'm not sure that I'm as crazy about it as some of the blocks in the full quilt, or maybe I just like them all put together better. It does need to be ironed and squared up a bit (like I said, not so good at the square thing.) Either way, I'm done quilting for awhile. My sewing machine, along with most of my other worldly possessions, will be packed in about 10 days.

When we are settled, I would like to continue quilting improvisationally. I am already looking for fabric for future projects.

Yes, I do have a few travel photos and the kids to post, it will have to wait a few days. Seriously, 3 quilts/3 weeks does not allow much time for other things.

"Collaborative" Quilt for John

Several years ago, John and Joy were cleaning out a shed on their property. In it, they found quilt squares made by John's mom in the 1940s. (They were paper pieced onto newspaper from 1944.) At the time, I didn't know what to do with them. This time last year, I pulled them out again, and decided they needed a new life. I asked Joy to send me photos of John and his mom. I then sewed everything together into a new quilt for old John.

Mini Quilts

I made a couple of mini quilts or prayer cloths for our Prayer shawl ministry.

This first one was made for a lady who recently lost her mother. It's about 21" square.

This other one was made for a soldier. It's approximately 18" square (and yes, I use the term "square" rather loosely on this one.)

Recent Busyness

Some of you have commented about my little blogging break. Not planned, exactly. I have photos to share with you of our weekend in Belgium, a few pics from birthday parties, and others (maybe I'll even manage to get video on here again.) Then, I made a commitment to make a quilt in a week. One week. Up until this time, I've kind of been a 1-2 quilts(not counting more arty quilts) a year kind of quilter. I recently joined a local Prayer Shawl Ministry. I volunteered to make a lap quilt. When I was asked when I could complete it, I found myself saying "I can do it by next week." As I walked out of there, I thought,"Did I just tell her that I would make a quilt (from planning to picking fabric, etc.) in A WEEK?" Anyway, I did it, but it didn't allow for blogging, or mopping, or much laundry, really.

This is the completed quilt, in part following tutorials from Crazy Mom. (Thanks!)

I made log cabin blocks and did free motion quilting. The quilting was actually fun! I've never enjoyed the quilting part before. It was around the size of 48x66.

The quilt was made for a woman in the states with terminal cancer.

Christopher, helping.

Quilts

A couple of quilts that I finished this summer

Daddy-Daughter Day, Christmas Markets, and a Quilt

Yesterday, we were all planning a trip to Kreuzberg. Kreuzberg is most famous for its beer, which is brewed by monks. At the last moment, I decided that I did not want to spend the day at a brewery (and driving to it.) So, it become a daddy-daughter day. I don't have much to say about the trip, since I didn't go, but I'm still sharing pictures.

Allen, with Damon and Brian

In the past few weeks, we have been to a few Christmas markets, from the local one in Parsberg, with about 10 booths, to the huge, crowded one in Nurnberg. We had a good time at all of them and will definitely be going back to Nurnberg and Rothenberg for more to see.

Gluhwein in Nurnberg

Ashlyn's favorite part of the markets, that and the cookies

I finished the top of Ashlyn's quilt at the first of September. At the time, I thought that I was going to quilt it myself. Then, we decided to move and I felt suddenly overwhelmed with all that I need to do. So, I sent the quilt to Laura, who had someone else do the quilting. It is phenomenal! I could never have done that good of a job. I couldn't quite get a good close-up of the quilting, though. Each section is quilted slightly differently. The flowers in the center have butterflies on them, just in the quilting. I am really pleased with how it turned out.

Accomplishments and Ashtrays

I've had a very busy week. I painted Ashlyn's bedroom:(It's just painted, not yet decorated.)

Today, I painted the baby's room:

I also finished THE BABY'S QUILT! Though I'm still not really prepared with everything for the baby at this moment, he/she is now allowed to be born (you know in 3 weeks when he's full term.)

close up

I chose to make the quilt based on fairy tales, more specifically Grimm's fairy tales, in honor of our "German baby." I represented 5 different tales here, how many do you know? I am mostly happy with the quilt, though I think that I could have made a few better fabric choices.

And, what do we have here? It seems that Ranger and Armand are part of this fairy tale!

As far as the ashtrays go, we've been living in one. We have a large basement room that is basically our "family room," where playroom, office, and art room all come together. We didn't have any seating besides uncomfortable table chairs, so we decided to borrow some furniture from the Army. We also weren't able to find a bed for Ashlyn that we liked, so we borrowed furniture for her room as well. When they dropped it off last week, I noticed a smokey smell, but I thought it was just the delivery guys. It was the furniture (and the delivery guys.) As soon as I walked into our basement after they left, I noticed the smell. It was awful. I called right away, and they were very apologetic, but I had to wait until today for new furniture to be delivered and the smoke infested stuff to be removed. If I spent even ten minutes down here, I would be choked by the smokiness. I don't just hate the smell. I can't breathe in it. My throat starts closing up and I get congested or a runny nose. I kept trying to leave the windows open, so it was semi-acceptable. Allen kept complaining that I was leaving windows open when it was just above freezing. Wimp. Wear a sweater. At least we can breathe.

On Saturday, I started moving some of Ashlyn's clothes into the borrowed dresser. As I opened the drawers, I realized that it reeked as well. Unfortunately, I couldn't call about it over the weekend, so they wouldn't even pick it up when they took the other stuff. I don't even want a replacement for it, just take it away. The delivery guys probably thought I was nuts as I put my nose to the new furniture before I would let them take them inside.

Pretty, pretty, pretty

I just received this package yesterday:

The fabric for the baby's quilt! (I LOVE batiks.)

I basically have two months to start and finish stuff for the baby's room. I thought I was doing pretty well. I finished Ashlyn's quilt top at the first of September. I though that I was going to attempt quilting it with my neighbor's new quilting machine. Then we decided to move. This threw everything off schedule.

I should not have attempted to make two quilts at this point. I considered buying something for Ashlyn (the one I liked at potterybarnkids was cheaper than making one, plus way easier,) but Allen made me feel guilty for buying her a quilt, when I make quilts. Now, I realize that was totally silly, I made Ashlyn a quilt when she was a baby. Plus, every time I make a quilt for one of my children, I'm going to feel like I have to make one for the other child at some point. So, this is the last quilt that I will make for Ashlyn, until she gets married or much, much later than every two years.

Anyway, after we moved, I realized that I was going to need to have someone else quilt Ashlyn's quilt. I just have too much to do. I'll post a picture of that one, after it is quilted.

I must get busy sewing. After all, this baby CANNOT be born until his mother has made his quilt!

Ranger and Packages

Ranger has been sick for the past week. I kept thinking it would get better, but it got worse instead. I will spare you the details. We went to the vet today. Not only is Ranger going to live, but I actually found something cheaper here, our vet bill!

While waiting to see the vet, I was reminded that I am not the mom that I want to be. I'm not talking about grand ideas, like setting a positive example or teaching my child to read. I'm talking about the kind of organized mom, who always has toys, activities, and snacks to keep their child entertained. I did have a couple of boxes of raisins in my bag, but not one toy. I had diaper rash cream, kleenex, diapers, wipes, antibacterial wipes, lotion, a change of clothes, and even emergency hair bands. Ashlyn pulled all of these out of my bag, and my wallet, keys, and phone. I want to be that mom who always has everything needed, instead of giving her child her wallet, so she can play with her credit cards. In Alaska, Heather was always that mom. When we would go places with her family, she would even have snacks for Ashlyn, while I had nothing. Anyway, that is my next organizational goal. Somehow.

I know that I am a loser, but this was the best day. After taking Ranger home, we grabbed lunch and went to post to get the mail! I knew that I had a package, since there was a notice this weekend. Ashlyn likes to go to the post office, too. She can turn the little knobs, and point out all the numbers. I even told her that as I was getting her out of the car, "I'll get the mail, and you can look at the numbers!" She gave a gasp of excitement over the prospect. She's way too easy to get excited over things right now. I'm not looking forward to the time when I'll actually have to come up with something cool for her to get excited, and then she'll just tell me how lame it is.

But, digression, this was the mother load! We had seven packages! All of my fabric came, plus books that I had ordered, a gift for Ashlyn, and a fun package of goodies from Joy. All of this is great, but of course, I'm most excited about my fabric. So, I'm pushing aside the clothing that needs to be washed, and washing my fabric. I'm so excited that I can finally get started, once the fabric is washed, dried, and ironed. And, I guess I need to figure out where the iron is, since I haven't used it on clothes since we got here. I was going to post a picture of the fabric, then reconsidered that none of you cared, except maybe Laura, and posting pictures of fabric made me a total nerd. Then, I decided that it was my blog, and I AM a nerd, who is very excited about all of her fabric. I decided to go with some reproduction fabrics from the 20s and 30s. I love it!

And, here's a picture of Ashlyn, for all those of you who are only here for those, anyway. Ashlyn had taken Raggedy Ann's clothes off, and put them on herself. During her nap.

Your thoughts

Since we have a new baby coming, who will need the crib where Ashlyn is currently sleeping, I am in the planning stages for a new quilt for Ashlyn's new big bed. I have less than 6 months to make a full size quilt and a toddler size quilt. Aaaaah! For serious quilters, this would probably not be a big deal, but for me, it is. Anyway, I am online looking at different fabrics. A couple of the girly fabrics that I really love are featured often for nurseries. I do not want to make a quilt for Ashlyn that is babyish. I don't mind if it looks like a little girl, since I am sure I will want to change things again long before she is a teen. Anyway, do you think pink gingham or toile are too babyish? I'm not planning on making the whole quilt in either one, but I was considering using them as accents.

Ugh. I haven't found a decent fabric store here, and while I think online shopping is the way to go for EVERYTHING else, I would much prefer to be in a fabric store. Touching the fabric. Placing fabrics next to each other. Finding inspiration.

Creativity Week

Ok, so I've had a couple of comments about not posting this past week. Hey, I've been busy. Not particularly with Ashlyn or school, but I made a quilt (a baby size one, approx 45x60) in a week! Ok, not all of it. I did already have the squares cut out. I did sew the top, including applique, and quilt and bind it, though. That took a lot of time. It wasn't really my goal when I started sewing to complete the whole thing in place of cleaning, blogging, and school work, but I figured once I had all of my sewing junk all over the living room, dining room, and kitchen (yes, Allen, you know how I work,) I might as well just complete the thing rather than put all that away, just to get it out again. So, since I ignored my blog for the week in order to complete the quilt, I am including a picture. Happy baby!

When I told my art teacher from home about my blog, he wanted to know if I had any paintings on it. I told him that I hadn't thought about it, but I figured I could put some paintings on here. That was in March, I believe, so it has taken me 6 months. These aren't my most recent paintings (speaking of, could I get pictures of those paintings from you guys?), but they are a few that I completed in the last year and a half. The pictures aren't great, since I didn't try to set up good lighting for artwork or use a tripod. They give you the idea, though.